From Morethanglam

Finding the right bronzer for your skin tone and type sometimes feels like an uphill battle, especially when you’re a woman of color. There are so many drugstore beauty products that claim to compliment every shade but end up looking disastrous once you actually apply them.

Bronzer can be one of the trickiest products to buy if you don’t know what to look for. The first step to finding the best bronzer for your skin tone is to avoid any bronzers that are super orange or grey. Those will completely drain the color from your face, regardless of your skin tone.

Now that we’re all on the same page about what bronzer not to buy, here’s our definitive list of the perfect bronzer for every skin tone.

If your skin tone is fair…

Good news! Just because your skin is super light doesn’t mean that you have to shy away from bronzer. It is possible for you to avoid that orange, unnatural look that comes with using the wrong shade of bronzer. Go for a bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone and apply it gently.

If your skin tone is light or medium…

The one to two shades darker rule applies to you too! Stay away from bronzers that have super warm (if you look great in gold) or cool (if you look great in silver) tones. Going too far on either side of the spectrum will give your skin a harsh, unflattering contrast.

Opt for a more neutral shade instead. This is the guarantee to give you that fresh off the beach look year round. Too Faced’s Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer is 100% parabens, sulfates and phthalates free and also contains real cocoa powder. It doesn’t get any better than that!

If your skin tone is olive or tan…

You can pull off both warm and cool shades! Try going for a reddish brown bronzer to add more color to your face and accentuate your cheekbones.

When it comes to bronzer for dark skin tones, the beauty industry tries to push that one label fits all, but this couldn’t be further from the truth!

If your skin tone is light or medium brown…

Depending on your undertones, bronzers with a goldish hue will really bring out your features and make your melanin pop! If you’re ever unsure of what bronzer to pick up because of it’s misleading “dark skin tone” label, try mixing a lighter and darker shade for the perfect medium.

IMAN has been holding it down for the black community for years. I don’t think there’s a makeup company that I trust more to take care of my skin.

If your skin tone is dark brown…

If you’re like me and your skin is mainly dark brown with a few lighter shades mixed in, pick a warmer bronzer that will even out your skin tone. It will also help sculpt and highlight the angles of your face without leaving your skin looking dry or patchy.

If your skin tone is deep…

Yes, you can wear bronzer! One with a terracotta shade would highlight the angles and shape of your face. It’s important to know whether you have cool or warm undertones so you don’t get a bronzer that is too red or orange.

This bronzer palette from e.l.f. has four different shades, all designed with the purpose of highlighting and contouring your best features. I love that each shade also comes in a different texture to fit your needs or mood that day!

Cassandra is a beauty and lifestyle writer. She spends most of her time treating herself to dinner and movie dates, pretending her life is a Marvel comic and figuring out how to keep her makeup on her face. Not necessarily in that order. She blogs about affordable outfits from her favorite movies and TV shows at Onscreencloset.com.